Railroad switch



March 24, 1931. N. TUZZO RAILROAD SWITCH Filed 001;. 10, 1929 I5Sheets-Sheet 1 N. TUZZO March 24, 1931.

RAILROAD SWITCH Filed Oct. 10, 3 Sheets-Sheet -2 March 24, 1931. N.TUZZO RAILROAD SWITCH Filed Oct. 10, 192 9 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 W Wy aw Qtil Patented Mar. 24, 1931 UNITED sA'rEs PATENTQFFEVCE NIGHOIQASTUZZO,OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T JOHN P. RUPP,

a OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK RAILRO D SWITCH Application filed October 10,1929. Serial N0l398,649.

This invention relates to improvements in switches for railroad tracks.

Its chief obj ect'is the provision of pointless switch which isconstructed andarranged to furnish a straight or full rail at all timesand thereby reduce to a minimum the possibility of derailment of carsand the wear on the car-wheels.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel and reliable meansfor connecting the switch rails to the main track and siding or turnoutrails. I

A still further object is to provide effective means for maintaining thesections of the switch rails in their correct relative positions.

In the accompanying drawings s Figure l is a top plan view of a railroadswitch embodying my invention, showing the switch set for main linetraffic. Figure 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary horizontal section takensubstantially through the web portions of the rails. Figure 3 is a topplan View of the switch, showing the same set for a siding or branchline traific. Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal section similar toFigure 2. Fig

ure 5 is an enlarged transverse section taken online 5-5, Figure 1.Figures 6 and 7 are fragmentary side views of the hinge means forconnecting the switch-rails to the trackrails. Figures 8 and-9 arevperspective views of the plates which are disposed in sliding relationbetween companion switch-rails.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding partsthroughoutthe several views.

' In its general organization, this improved switch differs from theordinary type of standard switch in that it is pointless and comprisestwo setsor pairs of laterally shiftable switch-rails or standard gagetrack: sections, the rails of one pair being flexibly joined toadjoining ends of the main track, and the other set of switch-railsbeing similarly connected to the adjoining rails of. the side track.Both sets of switch-rails are joined or coupled as a single unit'to beoperated by any suitable and well known switchactuating means, sothatwhen the switch-.

Referring now to the drawings, 10, 10 indlcate the main or straightstretch of track and 11, 11 indicate the branch or side track shuntedfromthe main track and joined to it by my improved switchjwhich is-inthe 7 form of duplex rail-sectionsinterposed at the junction of the maintrack and side track. Such switch, in the preferred construction shownin the drawings, consists of two sets or pairs of rails 12, '12 and 13,13, the switchrails 12, 12 being straight andof uniform width as totread'surface to form continuations of the main track-rails and toconnect the latter at the switching zone so as to furnish a fulluninterrupted tread surface when the switch is set for throughtrafiic onthe main line. The other switch-rails 13, 13 of each pair are curved inthe direction of their length to form continuations of the branch orside track 11, these likewiseforming a full tread surface at theswitching-zone when the switch is set for traflic to be diverted fromthe main line to the branch line. Y

The companion rails 12, 13 of'the corresponding pairs 'of switch-railsare disposed side by side and are coupled to each other to maintaintheir correctrelative position during the movement of the switch. Thecompanion rails at one side of the track are joined to the correspondingswitch-rails at the other side of the track to permitof a simultaneousmovementof both pairs of switch-rails during the switching operation.The movement of the switch-rails is a laterally swinging one, and forthis purpose the switch-rails 12, 13 are preferably joined to theopposing ends of the main track 10 and branch track 11 by a hingeconnection,the latter being so constructed and arranged as'to permitofbringing the straight rails 12 into alinement with the-main. track 10,while the curved rails 13 are shifted out of alinement with such maintrack-rails and vice versa. Inasmuch as the hingedc'onnection at theseveral points is the same, a description of one will suffice for all.Referringnow to Figures 2, 4i, 6 and7, numerals 14, 15 indicate themembers of a pair of straplike hinges, which are bolted or otherwisefastened to one side of the webs of adjoining track and switch rails 10,12 or 11, 13, the opposing inner ends of these hinges being coupled byan upright pintle 16 whose axis is located substantially in the plane ofthe joint between the companion rail sections. Disposed at the oppositeside of the adjoinmg track and switch-rails 10, 12 or 11, 13 arecompanion hinge members 17, 18 connected at their opposing inner ends byan upright hinge pintle 19 whose axis is likewise located substantiallyin the plane of the joint between the companion rail-sections. 'I-hehinge member 17 is bolted or otherwise fastened to the web of one of thecompanion rail-sections, while the other hinge member 18 has a slidingconnection with its companion rail-section to permit of the relativemovements required between the switch-rail 12 or13 andthe adjoiningtrack-rail 10 or 11. For this purpose, the hinge member 18 terminates ina guide element or extension 20 spaced laterally from and substantiallyparallel with the rail-web and guided intermediate its ends in a bracket21 secured to the respective rail. Applied to the free end of theextension 20 and interposed between the adjoining end of: the guidebracket and a nut 22 on such extension is a spring 23 which acts toyieldingly permit the necessary movement of the hinge member 18lengthwise ofthe track during the swinging movement of the switch-rail.In other words, as the switch-rail 12 for example, is shifted from theposition shown in Figures 1 and 2 to the position shown in Figures 3 and4:, its hinged connection with themain track-rail is accordingly brokenor separated at its inner side and in so doing the hinge-member 18 is,tree to move with the hinge pintle 19 lengthwise relative to the maintrack-rail. In the closed or operative position of the pairs ofswitch-rails 12 or 13, their hinged joints are closed flush with theadjoining track-rails 10 or 11, while in the open or inoperativeposition of such pairs of switch-rails, their hinged joints arepartially openor broken. The hinge elements of both pairs of switchrailsare so disposed that, as the straight-rails 12, for example, are movedfrom the closed position shown in Figures 1 and 2 to the open positionshown in Figures 3 and 1, the curved switch-rails 13 swingsimultaneously with said straight-rails to their closed position. Thisresult is accomplished by locating the hinge members 1 1, 15,17 and 18of the straightrails 12 reversely to those of the companion curved rails13 as clearly illustrated inthe drawings.

In order to compel the two pairs of straight and curved switch-rails 12,13 to more in unison during the opening and closing' of the switch, thecompanion rails of the pairs are tied to each other and supported One ofthe chairs nearest the open or free end pt the switch is shown connectedto a switch actuating lever 27, whereby the switch may be operated. Itis to be understood, however, that any other means may be employed foractuating the switch.

It is desirable to provide means for positively limiting the opening andclosing moveswitch-rails 12, 13 are insured correct alinement with thecorresponding tracks of the main or branch line. To this end, I providesuitable stop members 28, which may be in the form of flanged platesapplied to the railroad ties and properly located to cause the bases ofthe rails to engage them at the extreme movements in the opening andclosing of the switch. I have also shown stop plates which are appliedto the free ends ofthe respective switch-rails and which are adapted tocontact with the. webs of the adjoining straight-rails 10 and. therebyassist in insuring the proper alinement of the switch-rails with themain track.

Adjacent their front and rear ends, the opposing sides of the companionstraight and curved switch-rails 12, 13 are preferably pro vided withopposing bearing plates 31 bolted at their ends to the webs of therespective switch-rails and bearing flatwise against each other insliding relation and to permit of any relative longitudinal movementbetween said rails as the switch is operated. These plates are flangedat one edge, as indicated at 32, to engage the opposing edge of thecompanion plate in the manner shown in Figure 5. This constructionassists in maintaining the companion switch-rails in horizontalalinement.

In order to insure that the tread-faces of the switch-rails bemaintained flush or in horizontal alinement with the corresponding facesof the track-rails 10, the ties on either side of the open end of theswitch are preferably tied to one another by longitudinal bars 33.

This improved switch, being pointless, affords a full track-rail at alltimes, whether the switch be in an open or closed position, it re: ducesto a minimum the wear on the rolling stock, and prevents derailment oftrains at switch points.

I claim as my invention 1. In a switch, the combination with a. maintrack and branch track, of two pairs of simultaneously movableswitch-rails spaced to correspond to the width of said tracks, one pairof rails'constitutinga continuation and part 'inents of the switch sothat the respective of the main track and the other pair constituting acontinuation and part of the branch track, one of the switch-rails ofeach pair being disposed alongside the companion rails of the otherpair, means for holding such companion sets of switch-rails againstrelative lateral displacement, means for hingedly connecting one end ofsaid switch-rails with the corresponding main and branch tracks, wherebywhen one pair of switch-rails is moved into switching position the otheris moved out of such position, and stop members applied to the free endsof said switch-rails forv engagement with the adjoining ends of the maintrack rails for limiting the move ment of the switch-rails in eitherdirection and maintaining them in alinement with the main track.

2. In a switch, the combination with a main track and a branch track, oftwo pairs of simultaneously movable switch-rails spaced to correspond tothe width of said tracks, one pair of rails constituting a continuationand part of the main track and the other pair constituting acontinuation and part of the branch track, one of the switch-rails ofeach pair being disposed alongsidethe companion rail of the other pair,means for holding such companion sets of switch-rails against lateralrelative displacement, bearing plates applied to the opposing sides ofadjoining switchrails in sliding engagement with each other and eachhaving a flange at one edge to engage the opposing edge of the companionplate for maintaining such adjoining switch-rails in 1 horizontalalmement, means for lnngedly connecting one end of said switch-railswith the corresponding main and branchtracks, whereby when one pair ofswitch-rails is moved into switching position the other is moved out ofsuch position, and means for connecting the companion sets ofswitch-rails as a unit to permit their movement about their hinges, onepair of switch-rails being moved to an operative position relative tothe main track or branch track when the other pair is moved to aninoperative position.

3. A track switch, comprising two pairs of rails forming continuationsof the main and branch tracks and adapted for simultaneouslateral-swinging movement into and out of switching position, and hingeconnections applied to one end of said switch-rails for attachment tothe corresponding track-rails, each hinge connection including a pair ofelements joined by an upright pintle at a point substantially in linewith the joint faces of the rails, one of said hinge-elements beingfixed to its rail and the other hinge element being free to sliderelative to the companion rail in a direction lengthwise thereof duringthe switching movement.

4. A track switch, comprising two pairs of rails forming continuationsof the main and branch tracks and adapted for simultaneouslateral-swinging movement into and out of switching position, and hingemeans for connecting one end of said switch-rails to the correspondingtrack-rails, each hinge means including two sets of hinge membersdisposed on opposite sides of the switch-rail with their hinge-axespositioned substantially in line with the joint face of the rail, thehinge members of one set being adapted for fixed connection to theswitch-rail and companion track-rail, and the hinge members of the otherset being adapted respectively, for fixed connection to one of saidlast-named rails and for sliding connection to the other of said rails,such sliding connection including a bearing element applied toone'of-the rails, a guide element on the sliding hinge member extendingthrough said bearing element, and a spring applied to the extension ofsaid guide element. j

' NICHOLAS TU ZZO.

